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Contact Information
| State/Province: | Alberta |
| Contact Person: | William
M. Glasgow - Wildlife Biologist, Provincial Big Game Management Specialist |
| Address: | Fish
and Wildlife Division Alberta Sustainable Resource Development 100, 3115 - 12 Street NE Calgary, AB T2E 7J2 |
| Hunter Harvest Data | 1970 | 1985 | 1995 | 2000 |
| Total Mule Deer Harvest | NR | 17,932 | 19,562 | 17,738 |
| Antlered Mule Deer Harvest (Rifle/Muzzleloader) | NR | 9,346* | 10,347 | 8,586 |
| Antlerless Mule Deer Harvest (Rifle/Muzzleloader) | NR | 8,586* | 8,815 | 8,265 |
| Antlered Mule Deer Harvest (Archery) | NR | ---* | 271 | 575 |
| Antlerless Mule Deer Harvest (Archery) | NR | ---* | 129 | 312 |
| Total Deer Hunters (Rifle/Muzzleloader) | NR | 58,099 | 45,916 | 38,660 |
| Total Deer-Hunter Days (Rifle/Muzzleloader) | NR | 267,675 | 242,157 | 206,229 |
| Total Deer Hunters (Archery) | NR | ---* | 2690 | NR |
| Total Deer-Hunter Days (Archery) | NR | ---* | 20,540 | 38,785 |
Fees and Limits
| Resident License Fee: | $31.75 + WIN card($8) +Wildlife Certificate (14.85). Bowhunters need a Bowhunting Permit ($14.25). 7% sales tax is added |
| Non-resident License Fee: |
Non-resident:
$118.23 + fees listed above |
| %
of province in public lands: |
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| Season Bag Limit: | Generally 1, but 2 in some areas. |
| Definition of a Legal Animal: |
| 2001/2002 Seasons : |
Varies
by Area. |
| Mule
deer Population Statistics |
1970
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1985
|
1995
|
2000
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| Total population estimate | NR | 86,000 | 132,000 (1996) | 149,000 (2001) |
| Mean buck ratio/100 does | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Range buck ratio/100 does | NR | NR | NR | 5-62 |
| Mean fawn ratio/100 does | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Range fawn ratio/100 does | NR | NR | NR | 43-116 |
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Black-tailed
deer do not occur in Alberta
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Most winters in Alberta since the mid-1970s have been milder (warmer and less snow) than the long term average and the winter of 2000-2001 was one of the mildest on record. Mule deer populations have responded. We have completed a five year provincial status update in 2001 and now estimate a provincial population of 149,000 mule deer, compared to 132,000 in 1996 and 86,000 in 1985. There was significant winter mortality after the provincial estimate in 1996 due to the severe winter of 1996-97. However, the current 2001 estimate indicates that the population has recovered from the 1996/97 setback and significantly increased with the mild winters after 1996-97. Mule deer hunting in the settled areas of the province, where private land dominates, is allocated through a limited entry draw system for residents, with antlered special licences (antlered animals are bucks with at lease one antler 4 inches or more in length) and antlerless special licences (usually does and fawns but defined as any animal that is not antlered) available in the draw. In addition, there is a small allocation of antlered licences to outfitters for non-resident clients. General licence seasons, available for bucks only, remain in some of the western and northern forested areas of the province where cover is more extensive. The forested lands, about 2/3 of the Alberta landscape , are public lands owned by the Province of Alberta. There are also 4 National Parks in Alberta where hunting is not permitted. Non-residents (Canadians not resident in Alberta) and non-resident aliens (non-Canadian non-residents) may only hunt big game, including mule deer, in Alberta by accompanying a guide. The guide may be a licenced hunter host (which is a friend or relative) or a commercial outfitter-guide. For more details on hunting mule deer in Alberta please refer to the Fish and Wildlife Division website at http://www3.gov.ab.ca/srd/fishwl.html.
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